Sir, – I recently had a similar experience to Liam Clarke (December 31st) and as a result can offer some support for his difficulties. A short time ago, one of my children needed a couple of stitches in a cut after a fall. From Castleblayney, we could previously use an AE in Monaghan, but that is now a minor injury clinic that is closed outside of office hours. The nearest alternative is a 50-minute drive to Drogheda, so I tried the 30-minute drive to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry.
When I arrived there, it was explained to me that as I’m not paying tax in the North, I couldn’t obtain the treatment for free like the residents of Newry. Rather, Daisy Hill Hospital would have to invoice me to cover the cost of any procedures carried out. This was understandable, if unwelcome, but with an upset child in my arms, I readily agreed. Being aware of the fixed €100 charge for using an AE in this State, to which Mr Clarke referred, I was anticipating that the costs charged by Daisy Hill would be significantly in advance of this. However, when the invoice arrived, the actual charge was £80.
As such, even though Mr Clarke and myself already fund the State’s AE services through our taxes, it is still cheaper to pay the cost of treatments in Newry than to visit the facilities we have already paid for. – Yours, etc,